griffin



iNoModel.)

Wilgzssas 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. J. GRiPPIN. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Patented July 16,1895.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2'. J. GRIFFIN. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SIGNAL- Patented July 16, 1895.

(No Model.)

rIIIII IIIIrnvII/ I I I I I I I I I I I I I4 I I I I o I fill!!! I!!!IfI!I!Ill!!!IffIrIllI/lfllllllfrllllll!Ir r I 7 o 6 7 7 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

-A. J. GRIFFIN. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 542,638. I Patented Jl ly 16, 1895.

FIG-5- W ilgesses (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. I A. J. GRIFFIN.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 542,638. Patented July 16, 1895.

Wilgessas F l 6J2 I M 48 W E 60 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shet 5. A. J. GRIFFIN. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SIGNAL- Patented Jul 16, 1895.

w J m aw 'UNllTE STATEs ATENT men.

ALONZO J. GRIFFIN, OF VVILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO GEORGE T. GRIFFIN, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,638, dated July. 16, 1895.

App ati n Angust 7,1894. Serial No. 519,666. tNomodel.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo J. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vilkes-Barr, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Automatic Railway Signal, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to automatic railwaysignals; and it has-for its object to effect certain improvements in automatic signaling apparatus for trains, operated by the passing trains, and adapted to display the necessary signal for regulating the movement of the trains.

Vith these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of two duplicate signal apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, one of the signals showingthe parts thereof in the position before the train passes, and the other of the signals showing the parts thereof in the position assumed after the train has passed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail elevation of the swinging lock-lever and circuit-closer operated thereby. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus showing pneumatic operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 4t is a detail in perspective of another form of operating device forthe signal apparatus. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a series of signals of a modified form employing rotatable semaphore-disks, one of the signals showing the parts thereof in position for displaying the white safety signal, the second signal showing the parts thereof in a position .for displaying the red danger signal, and the third signal showing the parts thereof in a position for displaying the green caution signal. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of a pair of the semicircular semaphore or signal disks. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line m a: of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of one pair of the semaphore or signaldisks. Fig. 9 is asimilar view of the other pair of signal-disks. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on the line y yof Fig.7,

showing the semaphore or signal disks arranged to display the white signal. Fig. 11 is a similar view with the disks arranged to display the red signal. Fig. 12 is a similar view with the disks arranged to display the green signal. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic elevation of a modified form of releasing device for the lock-lever of the signaling apparatus. Fig. 14 is a side elevation, partly ranged adjacent to a railway-track and is sufficiently high to provide for properly displaying the signal supported thereon, and on top of said signal-tower 1 is mounted a supporting-bracket 2, in which is pivoted at a point intermediate of its ends on the pivot 3 the semaphore or signal-arm 4. The semaphore or signal-arm 4 is provided at one end with a weight 5 that is sufficiently heavy to normally elevate the other wide signal end 6 of said arm, which is painted with the usual signal colors and is adapted to give the proper signals to trains that move over the adjacent track. The weight 5 tends to normally hold the arm 4 in a substantially horizontal position, and at one side of its point of pivot the said arm is provided with the offstanding connecting-stud 7, over which works the upper slotted end 8 of the arm-rod 9, that works within the upper end of the tower 1 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to a vertically-movable weight 10 that Works inside of the tower.

The vertically-movable weight 1Q is provided with the transverse combined catch and guide-pin 11, the extremities of which preferably project through the guide-slots 12 in opposite sides of the tower to secure a steady movement for the said weight, and connected to the lower side of said weight is the upper end of thelever-rod 13, thelower end of which is pivotally connected to the upper extremity of the lazy-tongs 14, that work within the signal-tower below the said weight.

The lazy-tongs 14 are pivotally supported on the pivot-pin 15, that is secured in a station-- ary position within the signal-tower and ispassed through a pair of. the lowermost levers, partly comprising said lazy-tongs, and below the point of pivot the lower end of the lazy-tongs 14 has connected thereto the up per end of the connecting-rod 16, the lower end of which is pivotally connected. to one end of the press-lever 17, which partly works within the lower end of the signal-tower. The outer end of the press-lever 17 is pivotall'y supported, as at 18, beneath one of the rails of the track adjacent to which the apparatus is located, and near its pivoted end 18 the said lever is provided with an n pwardlydisposed foot 19, lying adjacentto the trackrail in order that the wheels of the cars may pass thereover to provide for depressing the lever 17 to cause the arm tto assume its horizontal signaling position.

The depression of the lever 17 by a passing train pulls down on the connecting-rod 16 and causes the lazy-tongs 1 L to be dis tended, which movement quicklyelevates the weight 10, and through the medium of the connection 9 with a slotted upper end 8 allows the weight end 5 of the signal-arm 4 to elevate the signal end of such arm to asubstanally mounted ata point inter-mediate of its ends, as at 22, at one side of the signal-tower and adjacent to the path of movement of the said pin 11. The sWinginglock-lever 2li'sprovided at one end with a weight 2.2 that causes the arm 20 to normally assume the. position shown in Figs. 2 and. 3- of the drawings when the pin 11 has been elevated to the upper end of the slot in which it moves, and the upper end of said cam-arm 2O i-srounded, as at 24:, to freely ride under and away from the said pin 11. the pin is not in its elevated position the same works. at one side of. the cam-arm 20, so

that immediately upon the elevation of the weight 10 to carry the pin. 11 ab'ovethecamarm such cam-arm is automatically thrown, by means of the Weight23, directly under the said pin and: therefore serves to lock the difupper slotted end 25 of the trip-rod 26, the

lower end of which is pivotally connected to one end of thearmature-lever 27, operatedby a pair of electromagnets 28, the wires or b of It. will of course be.understood.thatwhen I ranged one above the other and are provided with the contact-pins 32, that are normally separated from each other by the spring of said contact-plates; but when the pin 11 carried by the weight 10 has been lifted to the point where the cam-arm 20 swings beneath the same thesaid pin will bear against the lower of said contact-plates and cause the contact-pins 32 to cometogether, and thereby close a circuit over the wires g h and c d, which wires are included in a circuit with a battery or'other generator 33, arranged adjacent to or at a distance from the signal-tower,

whichelectrical-circuitalso includes the wires a b for the electromagnet-s 28 of the immediately-preceding signal apparatus, as clearly illustrated by the illustration of signals A and B, Fig. 1, this figure being arranged to show two of the signals arranged along the line of the same track and electrically connected by suitable connections, such as diagrammatically indicated.

With the various partsof the signal locked in the set position, as shown in signal B of the drawings, it will now be understood that when the. train passes the next signal and closes the circuit throughthe circuit-closer of that signal,-as already described, a circuit willbe completed over the wires g, c, b, a, d, and h andthe e-l'ectromaguets 28 ot' the set .i'gnal will be energized, so as to release or trip the lock-lever 21 from the pin 11 and allow the weight 10 to fall and lower the semaphore or signal-arm 4 to the position shown in signal A of the drawings.

Whilean ordinary form of press-lever17 is described as connected with the rod 16 for operatingtlre lazy-tongs 14-, it will be understood that other forms-of operating'devices for the signal apparatus, such as shown in Figs. 3 and dot the drawings, may be employed.

Referringparticul'arly to Fig. 3 of thedrawin-gs, it will be seen that apneumatic operating device isillus-trated as connected to' the rod 16, such pneumaticoperating device being; substantially similar to that shown in my former patent,.No. 443,440. In thisconstruction the press-lever l7, referred to, is pivota-lly connected at one end to the upper end of the piston-rod 34E of an ainpump cylinder 35, within which movesa valved piston-head 36, and to the lower end of which is connected a pipe 37, that leads to thebottom of an air-cylinder 38-,w-hich, in the present invention, is

mounted with-in the signal-tower at the base IIO thereof, and accommodates therein a pistonhead 39, which is attached to the lower end of the rod 16, that forms the piston-rod therefor, and the said cylinder 38 is provided with v employed.

In the form of operating device shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings a rock-shaft 41 is journaled in suitable bearings 42, arranged at one side of the track, and at both ends the said rock-shaft is provided with the rockarms43, to one of which is pivotally connected the lower end of the connecting-rod 16, and the other of which is pivotally connected at its outer end, as at 44,to one side of the press plate or bar 45, that is supported by the springchairs 46. at one side of one of the rails of the track, and is adapted to communicate motion to therock-shaft 41 when the car-wheels press thereupon.

In connection with the signal apparatus and the different means for operating the same an ordinary weighted semaphore or signalarm has been described, but substantially the same operating means may be employed in connection with the form of signals shown in Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive. Inthese figures of the drawings the signal-tower 1 is illustrated as being provided at its upper end with a semicircular signal-casing 47, that is open at its front side, and accommodates for rotation and concealment therein separate pairs of semicircular semaphore or signal disks 48. The said semicircular disks 48 are-arranged in pairs thatare displayed one at; a time, so that the same signal color may be seen from the track in both directions, and the said disks 48 are mountedon an oscillating shaft 49, journaled in suitable bearings 50 in opposite sides of the semicircular casing 47.

The signal-disks 48 of each pair are reversely disposed to'each other, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, so that only one disk of each pair can be exposed in front of the casing, while the other disk of the same pair is concealed within the casing, and both sides of the signal-disks are painted, so that by a proper adjustment of both pairs of disks the colors white, red, and green may be displayed at both sides of the signal-tower to be seen from the track in either direction. One pair of the signal-disks 48, which may be additionally designated as 48 and 48 are mounted loosely upon the shaft or spindle 49 and are connected at diametrically opposite ends, so as to rotate together, by means of the connecting-bridges 51, that span the space between the said disks, and the other pair of disks, which may he additionally designated as 48 and 48, are mounted fast on the shaft or spindle 49, and are adapted to rotate therewith. One of the semicircular disks of each pair has pivoted thereto at one side on the pivot 52 a pivoted weight 53, one edge of which rests on a stop-pin 54, projected from one side of the same disk to which the weight is attached, and such weights serve to rotate the said disks in one direction. One disk of each pair of disks 48 is also provided with aperipheral stop-pin 55, that is adapted to engage at the upper and lower front sides of the easing 47 to limit the movement of said disks to a half-rotation, and at one side of one of the disks of each pair is also arranged awindingpulley 56, to which is connected the upper end of the operating-cords 57 and 57, the cord 57 being intended for rotating in one direction one pair of semaphore or signal disks 4-8, and the other cord 57 being intended for rotating in one direction the other pair of semaphore or signal disks in a manner to be presently referred to.

The operating-cords 57 and 57 work inside of the signal-tower 1, and are each connected at their upper ends to a vertically-moving weight 10, already described; but in connection with the rotating semaphore or signal disks it'is to be noted that I employ a pair of the vertically-moving weights 10 and the lazy-tongs connections therewith, as well as the automatic look-lever to engage and discogage the pins of said weights, as has already been fully setforth. The only difference in this double arrangement ofoperating mechanism for the signals over the arrangement already described is that the lower ends of the connectingaods 16, that are connected to the lazy-tongs 14, are connected to opposite extremities of a cross-arm 16, formed at the upper end of a supplemental connecting-rod .16", mounted to slide in a suitable guide 16?, secured within the signal-towerand connected at its lower end to one end of the press-lever 17 previously referred to. r

A circuit-closer 29, similar to that already described, is arranged in position to be operated by the pin of the weight that is connected to the operating-cord 57, and the circuit-wires of of said circuit-closer 29 are included in a suitable electric circuit with the battery or other generator 33, which electrical circuit also includes one pair of the electromagnets 28 of a preceding signal, as diagrammatically illustrated in signals (3,.D, and E of Fig. 5 of the drawings, which figure is arranged to show three signals arranged along the line of the same track and having the necessary electrical circuit connections therewith.

Referring particularly to the signals illus trated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, it is to be noted that the various parts of the apparatus illustrated in signal 0 are set for an approaching train, and the pairs of signal-disks are so adjusted as to display the white signal. The train in passing the signal 0 raises the weights through the medium of the connections described and slackens the cords 57 and 57, and the pairs of disks will make a halfrevolution in response to the weight of the i weights 53, and the said disks will be stopped at a half-revolution by the stop-pins 55, already referred to. When the signal-disks assume this position, the same will expose the red signal, as shown in signal D of the drawings and also in detail, Fig. 14.

After a train has passed a signal with'the parts in the position shown in signal 0 of the drawings, the several parts of the apparatus will be locked in the position shown in signal D of the drawings, and as the train passes the next signal the same action takes place; but the circuit-closer 29 of this next signal will, through the medium of the connections 6, b, a',j, b, a,j, andf, energize one pair of the magnets 28 of the last signal and will release or trip the lock-lever from that weight which is connected to the cord 57, so that the parts of the apparatus assume the positions shown in signal E of the drawings, and in this movement the disks 48 and 48 will rotate to their former position, and thereby expose the green signal, as maybe plainly seen in detail, Fig. 15, of the drawings. In passing the next and third signal the circuit-closer of that signal through the medium of the electrical connections with the first signal, as above traced out, will energize the pair of electromagnets that control the lock device for the weight connected with the cord 57, so that such weight will fall and carry back the disks 48 and 48 to their normal positions, again exposing the white signal, as shown in signal 0 of the drawings.

The means for releasing or tripping the lock-lever 21, as herein already referred to, has simply been a pair of electromagnet's with suitable connections; but amechanical releasing or tripping device, such as illustrated in Fig. 13 of'the drawings, may be employed. In this form of releasing or trip device a press-lever 17 similar to the lever 17, is employed, and this lever is arranged in connection with the track at any desired distance from the signal-tower, and to one end of this lever is connected an operatingwire 58, that is passed over a suitably-arranged guide-pulley 59 and is connected to oneend of a set of lazy-tongs 60, pivotally mounted on the pivotpin 61, within a suitable box or casing 62, supported on a standard or pole 63, and the end of the lazy-tongs opposite to the pivotal support thereof carries a pulley or roller 64, over which passes a second or extension wire 65, which also passes over a guide-pulley 66,

mounted within the box or casing 62, and has connected to one end thereof a weight 67, which assists to maintain the said extensionwire at the proper tension, and the other end of said extension-wire is provided with the branches 68 and 69, from one of which is suspended the weight 70, and to the other of which is connected the spring 71, that is also connected to one end of the lock-lever 21,

which is preferably limited in its movement in one direction by means of the stop-bracket 72, secured to the signal-tower and arranged therebelow at one side of its point of pivot.

the wires and 58 are employed to compensate for slack wire as well as to speed up the movement of the operating connections.

While one set of lazy-tongs has been described, it will be apparent, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings, that a pair of the same maybe used in the line of the connections described, and in this arrangement, as illustrated in the drawings, the continuity of the extension-wires 65 is interrupted and the corresponding ends thereof provided with the weight and pulley connections are connected with one end of both sets of lazy-tongs.

In Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings is illustrated a modified arrangement of operating means for the semaphore at the upper end of the signal-pole, and by reference to these figures of the drawings it will be observed'that an inclined boxing or casing 74 is mounted on the signal-tower at a suitable point above the ground, and the said inclined box or casing accommodates for longitudinal movement therein a set of lazy-tongs 75, that are pivotally secured within the said box or casing on the fixed pivot-pin 76, and to one end of the set of lazy-tongs 75 is connected the lower end of the arm-rod 9, already referred to, and the said arrn-rod 9 is connected to the set of lazytongs 75 by means of a connecting and guide pin 77, that slides or works in the guide-slot 78, formed in the side of the box or casing and provided at its upper terminal with a horizontal lock portion 78. Near the point of pivot the said lazy-tongs have pivotally connected thereto one end of an operating arm or rod 79, which carries at its opposite end the strike-pin 80, guided to move in the longitudinally-disposed guide-slot 81 in the side of the box or casing 74. Pivotally supported within the box or casing 74, at both sides of the pin 80, are a pair of operating bell-crank levers 82 and 83, and to one arm of the lever 82 is attached the upper end of a connecting-rod 84, the lower end of which is connected to one end of the armature-lever 85, working over the electromagnets 86,'that are included in a suitable electrical circuit with a track circuit-closer 87, arranged adjacent to one of the rails of the track and adapted to be operated by the wheels of the passing train to close the circuits through the magnets 86, and thereby energize the same; To one arm of the other bell-crank lever 83 is connected the upper end of the connectingrod 88, the lower end of which is connected to one end of the armature-lever 89, operated by the electromagnets 90, that are included in an electrical circuit similar to the circuit described in connection with the magnets 86, and are similarly energized from a circuitcloser arranged at a different point along the track from the circuit-closer 87, as will be easily understood.

The downward movement of therod 8% will move the bell-crank lever 82 in a direction against the pin 80 which will cause the lazytongs to be expanded to elevate the semaphore or signal-arm to the position shown in Fig. 18 of the drawings. This movement carries the connecting-pin 77 into the horizontal lock portion 78 of the slot 78, and this engagement of the pin 77 with the slot extension 78 serves to lock the various parts of the signal in their set positions, and therefore corresponds to the lock device for the signal, consisting of the lock-lever 21 and its connections. The downward movement of the rod 88 throws the bell-crank lever 83 in a direction against the pin that causes thelazytongs 7 5 to collapse and to release or trip the pin 77 from the slot extension 78, so that the semaphore or signal-armmay fall, and the said bell-crank .lever 8t and its operating means may properly be said to comprise a releasing. or trip device for the locking means of the signal apparatus just described.

From the above it is thought that the operation and construction of the herein-described apparatus, including its modifications, will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, andthe minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway signal, the combination with the tower having a guide slot, and the movable semaphore supported on the tower; of a set of pivotally supported lazy tongs carrying a pin working in said guide slot, a connection between said lazy tongs and the movable semaphore, train controlled operating devices connected with the lazy tongs means for locking the pin carried by the lazy tongs at one end of the slot in which it works to secure the lazy tongs distended or expanded, and means for automatically releasing or tripping said pin to allow the lazy tongs to fold, substantially as set forth.

2. In a railway signaling apparatus, the combination with the signal tower having a guide slot, and the movable semaphore supported thereon; of a vertically movable weight working within the tower and provided with a projecting pin extended through and working in said guide slot, a set of lazy tongs pivotally supported within the tower and connected at one end with said weight, train controlled operating connections with said lazy tongs, a lock lever weighted at one end and pivotally supported on the tower adjacent to the movement of said pin, said lever being provided at an intermediate'point with an otfstanding cam arm adapted to engage 'under and against the pin when elevated,

and an automatic releasing or trip device for said lock lever, substantially as set forth.

3. In a railway signaling apparatus, the combination with the signal tower and the movable semaphore supported thereon; of the vertically movable weight working within the tower and provided with a projecting 75 pin, a set of pivotally supported lazy tongs connected at one end with said weight and at the other end with suitable train controlled operating means, a weighted lock lever pivotally supported adjacent to the movement 80 of said pin and provided with an offstanding cam arm adapted to engage under the pin when elevated, an electro magnet device having an armature lever, a trip rod connected at one end to said armature lever and 85 l at its upper end to one end of said lock lover, a circuit closer comprising normally spaced contact plates supported above the pin of the Weight and operated by the movement of said pin, and suitable electrical circuits with said circuit'closer and said electro magnet device, substantially as set forth.

4. In a railway signaling apparatus, the combination of the signal tower provided at its upper end.with a semicircular signal casing, separate pairs of independently movable semaphore disks mounted within said casing, each pair of disks being weighted for rotation in one direction, a pair of vertically movable weights working within the tower, lazy tongs operating connections with each of said weights, suitable connections between each weight and a pair of said semaphore disks to rotate the same in a direction opposite to the inducement of their weights, a locking device for each weight to support the same in their elevated positions, and means for automatically releasing or tripping each lock device, substantially as set forth.

5. In a railway signaling apparatus, the combination with the signal tower provided at its upper end with a semicircular signal casing, an oscillating shaft journaled transversely in said signal casing, separate pairs of semicircular semaphore disks working within said casing and mounted onsaid shaft, one pair of said disks being loose on the shaft and the other pair fast thereon, and one disk of each pair of disks being provided with a winding pulley and separately controlledoperating cords connected to said winding pulleys, substantially as set forth.

6. In a railway signaling apparatus, the combination with the signal tower provided at its upper end with a semicircular signal casing, an oscillating shaft journaled transversely in said casing, separate pairs of semicircular semaphore disks working within. said casing and mounted on said shaft, one pair of disks being mounted loose on the shaft and 130 the other pair fast thereon, and the said disks of each pair being reversely disposed to each other, connecting bridges connecting diametrically opposite ends of the disks that are operating connectionsconnected'witheach of [O said operati-ng'cords, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO J. GRIFFIN. Witnesses:

S. T-ERWIL'LIGER,

P. LYNCH. 

